This premium Southwest card delivers exceptional value for frequent flyers. The annual fee is offset by travel credits and upgraded boardings, while anniversary points and Companion Pass boosts maximize your rewards potential for domestic travel.
This is the ideal card for frequent Southwest flyers. The $149 annual fee is immediately offset by a $75 Southwest travel credit, and the four upgraded boardings (in the A1–A15 group) easily cover the remaining cost. You'll also receive 7,500 anniversary points and an annual 10,000-point Companion Pass boost, putting you well on your way to earning one of the most valuable perks in domestic travel. If Southwest is your preferred airline — even just a few times annually — this card provides consistent, real-world value.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card stands out among Southwest's personal credit card offerings. Despite its higher $149 annual fee, it provides substantially more value than its counterparts, especially for those who fly Southwest regularly. The card offers the same attractive 50,000-point sign-up bonus as other Southwest personal cards, but comes with premium benefits that justify the additional cost:
Additionally, the card provides 7,500 anniversary points each year, worth approximately $105 when redeemed for Southwest flights. For Southwest loyalists who fly even just 3-4 times per year, these benefits quickly outweigh the annual fee, making the Priority Card an excellent long-term value proposition.
This card may not be the right fit if you rarely fly Southwest, so the perks won’t offset the annual fee. Or you’ve earned a Southwest personal card sign-up bonus within the last 24 months and are ineligible for another until that window resets.
Southwest airlines carries the most passengers in North America.
This Priority card stands as the premium option among Southwest's three personal credit cards, with benefits that justify its $149 annual fee. When examining the Southwest card lineup, the Priority card delivers substantially more value for frequent flyers than its counterparts.
The card's standout features include:
When comparing the three personal Southwest cards, the Priority offers clear advantages. While the Premier ($99 annual fee) and Plus ($69 annual fee) cards provide fewer benefits, they share the same earning structure: 3x points on Southwest purchases, 2x on local transit, and 1x on everything else.
For status chasers, both the Priority and Premier cards offer a pathway to A-List status through spending, with 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points awarded for every $5,000 in purchases. This feature is absent on the entry-level Plus card.
The right Southwest card ultimately depends on your travel patterns. Occasional Southwest flyers might find the Plus card sufficient, while those who fly Southwest several times annually will likely extract more value from the Priority card's enhanced benefits, despite its higher annual fee.
I’ll admit it — Southwest isn’t my favorite airline when it comes to the in-flight experience. The boarding process can be stressful, and the lack of seat assignments isn’t ideal. But the points? Incredibly easy to earn and redeem. And with no change fees or blackout dates, Southwest makes it easy to book, cancel, or adjust plans as needed. That flexibility has made a big difference for me. I’ve used points to fly family in for Holiday visits, sent my kids to visit friends across the country, and booked spontaneous weekend getaways — all without spending cash. I may not love the flight itself, but I love what the points allow me to do.
| Bonus Points | Minimum Spend | Point Value | Annual Value | Annual Fee |
1st Year Value
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50,000 | $1,000 | 1.3 ¢ | $0 | $149 |
$514
|
| Best Value | Differentiating Perks | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Companion Pass, US & Caribbean Flights | 7500 bonus points annually, 4 A-list boarding, $75 travel credit | SW Pers 1/24 , 5/24 , Chase 2/30 , Chase 4/6 |
3X points
3.9¢ Per Dollar Spent
1X points
1.3¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
Transfer To Spouse/Partner Yes - $$
Transfer To Friends Yes
Outside Point System Southwest Rapid Rewards
1:1 81% value retained
3:1 62% value retained
5:2 33% value retained
You're not eligible for a new card bonus if you have received a bonus from a personal Southwest card within the last 24 months
Your application will be declined if 5 new cards are reported on your personal credit report in the past 24 months
You'll be declined if you apply for a third Chase card of any kind within 30 days
Chase will decline your application you apply for a 5th Chase card (personal or BUSINESS) in 6 months
Below is a snapshot of where this card performs best compared to the other cards in our database:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus - Earn 85,000 points after spending $3000 in 3 months, $69/annual fee.
- Southwest Premier Credit Card - Earn 85,000 points after spending $3000 in 3 months, $99/annual fee.
- Southwest Priority Credit Card - Earn 85,000 points after spending $3000 in 3 months, $149/annual fee.
- British Airways - Signature Card - Earn 100,000 Avios after spending $7500 in 6 months, $95/annual fee.
LIMITED TIME DEALS:
- IHG Traveler Chase card - 100,000 points after spending $2000 in 3 months - $0/annual fee.
- Southwest Plus Chase card - 50,000 points after spending $1000 in 3 months - $69/annual fee.
- Southwest Premier Chase card - 50,000 points after spending $1000 in 3 months - $99/annual fee.
- Southwest Priority Chase card - 50,000 points after spending $1000 in 3 months - $149/annual fee.
- Delta Platinum Business Amex card - 65,000 miles after spending $6000 in 6 months - $350/annual fee.
- Delta Reserve Business Amex card - 75,000 miles after spending $10,000 in 6 months - $650/annual fee.
- Delta Gold Business Amex card - 55,000 miles after spending $4000 in 6 months - Annual fee waived first year, then $150/annual fee.
- Delta Platinum Amex card - 50,000 miles after spending $3000 in 6 months - $350/annual fee.
- Delta Gold Amex card - 40,000 miles after spending $2000 in 6 months - Annual fee waived first year, then $150/annual fee.
- AA Executive Citi card - 70,000 miles after spending $7000 in 3 months - $595/annual fee.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card - 75,000 Points after spending $3000 in 3 months, $69/annual fee.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card - 75,000 Points after spending $3000 in 3 months, $99/annual fee.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card - 75,000 Points after spending $3000 in 3 months, $149/annual fee.
Southwest is offering a nice sign up bonus of 75,000 bonus points on 3 of their personal cards right now after spending $3000 in 3 months:
1. Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus - $99 annual fee.
2. Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier - $99 annual fee.
3. Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority - $149 annual fee.
